Mildred Sterling

STERLING, MILDRED MILDRED STERLING, 85, of Waco died Friday in a local nursing home. Funeral services will be at 9:30 AM Wednesday, March 21, 2001 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque Blvd, Dr. Scott Walker officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8 PM Tuesday at the funeral home. Miss Sterling was born in Waco May 17, 1915. In her first year as a Waco High student in 1930,she won first place in Texas in first year Latin. She continued her academic success by being Valedictorian of the class of 1932. She graduated with honors from Baylor University in 1936 with a BA in Education. She taught school briefly in Delia and Lorena school districts, and then for several years in Chilton. In 1945 she came to Waco High to assist Miss Osborn in teaching Latin. She received her MA in Education from Baylor University in 1945. Miss Sterling’s interest in Latin extended beyond the classroom to the state and national level. The Texas State Classical League presented their first special award to Mildred Sterling for her outstanding contribution to Latin students in Texas. Miss Sterling went to the first meeting in which the Junior Classical League was formed as a national organization. She attended meetings for many years, originally bringing students. She continued to attend after her retirement until she was the only who had been to every meeting. The New York Times’ coverage of this meeting mentioned her name. The Waco High class in which Ann Richards was a member held one of their reunions in the Governor’s mansion while occupied by one of Waco High’s most distinguished graduates. Miss Sterling was invited to many reunions but this was one of the most memorable. It was made more memorable by a thoughtful member of the class who provided her with a video of the occasion. Miss Sterling was transferred to Richfield High School when it opened in 1961. Her loyalty to tiger and ram sports teams was the same. Probably no other teacher was more enthusiastic in being present at games and in chaperoning students on buses to games. Her priority is demonstrated by the fact that in 41 years of teaching she never felt too back to teach. Her feeling toward her students and her work overcame any aches or pains. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Waco an Delta Kappa Gamma. Survivors include her brothers: Thornton Sterling of Waco and Dawson Sterling of Houston; her nieces: Evelyn Renouf and her family of Plano and Emily Clare Martin and her family of Richardson. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY